Glee for Glad? Oh boy...

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this being sold at the Five & Dime in San Antonio the other day....

I want to get it. I do. Perhaps I should clarify that by 'get it', I don't mean purchase it... I mean that I want to understand it.
I also want to not be overly critical of things Christians are doing to in order to start conversations. But, I am.

I sincerely hope that somewhere out there, this shirt has brought someone to Christ. It reminds me of the movie Bruce Almighty- that in a moment of desperation Jim Carrey is asking for God to send Him a sign and BOOM, there it is. I have to believe things like that happen in real life... that someone might be crying out for something bigger, something greater than them, to be saved or rescued and then all of a sudden they run into someone at the airport wearing a ridiculous Christian t-shirt. And BOOM, it clicks...it moves them closer to Jesus. That has to happen, right?

I guess I just hesitate when I see shirts like these...you know which ones I'm talking about...
got Jesus?
hisway (like Subway)
Lifeguard-- mine walks on water
Armed & Ready (like Arm & Hammer Baking Soda)
YouWho He died for (like Yoo-Hoo Drinks)

There's a plethora of them. I just did a google search for Christian t-shirts and browsed through the images...and I can't handle it.

I can't handle it because I don't think that's what Jesus meant when He asked us to be set apart. Throwing on a t-shirt with some popular slogan/brand that's modified to fit our Christian culture and language isn't going out into the world. I think we can expect to be ridiculed and made fun of for following Christ, but it shouldn't be for this. 'Cause, in reality, I'm probably going to make fun of you, too.

I think being set apart has everything to do with the way that we are living and loving...and doing that drastically different than others might. Wearing this shirt doesn't change my heart, it doesn't scream that Jesus is really the Savior of my soul. Rather, I fear that wearing this shirt wouldn't even allow me a chance to talk to someone enough to where they might take me seriously.

I'm probably just fed up with Christian culture, in general... and these shirts seem to be a good representation of what it's become. We try to appeal, we try to fit in, we try too hard...without really trying at all. And sometimes I wonder if the Lord isn't looking down wondering when we'll get it. Remember in Matthew when Jesus quoted Isaiah's prophecy:

‘These people honor me with their lips, 

   but their hearts are far from me.' 

 
Are we attempting to honor Jesus with our t-shirts, when are hearts are far from Him? I guess that's for each person to decide.

I know God uses them for good...and for that I am thankful.
But, I know that I cringe every time I see one... because I fear the negativity that comes with it.
I suppose I want people to think I'm crazy because of the way that I radically love Jesus and His people, not because of the clothes that I wear.

At the end of the day, it probably doesn't matter... but if you're going to wear shirts like this, I pray that you do so cautiously. That as you proclaim Christ across your chest, back and sleeve, I pray that you proclaim Him through your words, your actions...and that your heart is not far from Him.

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